DON’T let anyone fool you: jumper numbers are serious business.

Days after the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft, in their first hours at IKON Park, Carlton’s new AFL recruits received the numbers in which they’ll hopefully carve out a long career in Navy Blue.

Weeks later, the new AFLW draftees received the exact same treatment.

And as is always the case when it comes to the number distribution, there’s more than meets the eye.

There’s the generational lens, first of all. Joining Jack Silvagni (No.1) and Abbie McKay (No.5) in the respective numbers of their fathers is Ben Camporeale, who was handed the No.16.

In the case of fellow recruits Lucas Camporeale and Sophie McKay, something has to give. Lucas will wear a significant number in his own right, that of another South Australian wingman Craig Bradley, the Club games record-holder and long-time teammate of Scott.

For Sophie, her request was a bit more unique, receiving the No.55 guernsey - the first of its kind in AFLW history, acknowledging not only dad Andrew, but also siblings Abbie and Charlie.

On the other side of the locker room is first-round pick Poppy Scholz, who was thrilled to receive the No.7 jumper upon her arrival. It mirrored that of Jagga Smith, who was also the Blues’ opening selection of the draft who received the same number - the one he wore as a junior.

Scholz, the key defender, will be just two lockers away from Kerryn Peterson’s No.9, the captain who plays in a similar position. Same goes for Smith and Patrick Cripps.

Then, there’s Tara Bohanna, the childhood Bluebagger who requested the No.42 jumper after previously wearing No.12 while captaining the Suns.

Not only did her partner wear the number back at the Suns when they were teammates, but the left-footed Bohanna just happens to be a big fan of Adam Saad - who, incidentally, started his AFL career on the Gold Coast.

“It was a few things: I love Saady, he’s a left-footer. Maybe the 'woof' can come to the girl's side, who knows,” she said. 

“My partner Jade used to wear No.42 at Gold Coast. Numerology-wise, I always look at the scoreboard and think ‘six goals and six points is 42 points, but six plus six is 12’, so it comes back to my old number in a roundabout way.”